Rapper T.I. doesn’t plan on ending his Gucci boycott anytime soon although fans feel he has more pressing issues on his hands.
The “Memories Back Then” artist lost his big sister Precious Harris on Friday, Feb. 22 after she succumbed to her injuries from a severe car accident on Feb. 13. He and his family appear to be still grieving and are celebrating her life with photos and videos of her. T.I., however, promised to not give up on his fight against Gucci and other major labels who’ve offended Black folks with their ostensibly racist designs.
T.I. and Precious Harris. (Photo: @troubleman/Instagram)
The rapper took to Instagram on Monday and shared the last text message conversation he had with his sister Precious before she passed away. In the text, T.I.’s late sister talks about Gucci and the other major fashion brands being seemingly biased against Black people and rappers.
“When I worked at Phipps Plaza they didn’t even want Black folks in there,” the older woman wrote. “The reason Tom Ford left Gucci was because they developed a division just for ya’ll rappers. They don’t sell that s–t to regular customers.”
@troubleman
T.I. then vowed to continue boycotting Gucci and seemingly make them pay for their alleged blackface design.
“My last txt from big sis… THIS WHY IM STAYING ON @gucci NECK!!!,” he pledged on Feb. 25. “Cause SHE SAID SO!!!! 🖕🏽🖕🏽🖕🏽🖕🏽em.”
Fans who were concerned about the rapper being hellbent on vengeance urged him to forget about the boycott.
“@troubleman31 U still on this man let it go it’s bigger battles to fight,” one person commented underneath T.I.’s post. ” Besides I don’t think no one is going to stop buying Gucci no time soon so what’s the point this vengeance plan ain’t the move.”
Another user added, “Vengeance is not yours it’s God’s ti keep your head up and praying for you 🙏🏾💯.”
Others fans commended T.I. for proceeding on with the boycott against Gucci and told him to make his late sister “proud.”
“Wow… says it all.. and makes sense. Making them rich when they can’t stand us. Make big sis proud!!! 🙏🏾.”
“Stay on they neck, they head, they back and most of all THEY AZZ! 💪🏿💯#RESPECT & 🙏🏿.”
Earlier this month, it emerged that Gucci had included in its fall/winter collection a $890 black wool balaclava sweater which featured a bright red lips design that evoked minstrel imagery. Social media deemed it “racist” and Gucci immediately pulled the item from online and shelves. The Italian fashion house also apologized for its faux pas.
T.I., among other Black celebrities refused to accept Gucci’s apology, and called for a three-month boycott against the company.
@troubleman
“Y’all GOT US fucked UP!!! APOLOGY NOT ACCEPTED,. Our culture RUNS THIS S—!” T.I. wrote on Instagram Friday, Feb. 8. “I Don’t Give a F–k if I gotta wear Target brand shit…. #F–kGucci.”
T.I. also outed Prada for its insensitive designs in December, including bag charms that featured monkey-like features, also evoking blackface.
“Oh Prada TOO???!!!!!🤷🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️ @prada. So y’all just gon TRY US like this???? Ok…Y’all gon get this WORK as well!!! #F–kPrada🖕🏽#USorELSE✊🏻✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿,” he added.
